Mike Johanns

Michael Owen "Mike" Johanns (18 June 1950-) was a member of the US Senate from Nebraska (R) from 3 January 2009 to 3 January 2015, succeeding Chuck Hagel and preceding Ben Sasse. Johanns previously served as the US Secretary of Agriculture from 21 January 2005 to 20 September 2007 (succeeding Ann Veneman and preceding Chuck Conner) and as Governor of Nebraska from 7 January 1999 to 20 January 2005 (succeeding Ben Nelson and preceding Dave Heineman).

Biography
Michael Owen Johanns was born in Osage, Iowa on 18 June 1950, and he graduated from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and Creighton University School of Law. He worked as an attorney in private practice before clerking for the Nebraska Supreme Court, and he was elected to the Lancaster County Board in 1983 as a member of the Democratic Party. In 1988, he was elected to the Lincoln City Council, this time serving as a Republican. In 1991, he was elected Mayor of Lincoln, and he was re-elected in 1995; in 1998, he was elected Governor of Nebraska. From 2005 to 2007, he served as the US Secretary of Agriculture under President George W. Bush, and he was elected to the US Senate in 2008 to replace Chuck Hagel. Johanns opposed Obamacare, cap-and-trade legislation, funded autoimmune disease research, and supported the rerouting of the Keystone Pipeline.